Lacrosse is a game rich in history, involving a stick and rubber ball. First created by North American Indians in the 15th century, this game was a favorite pastime for recreation. However, the Indians soon discovered that the game was physically demanding, making it a great training tool for teaching the warriors to fight.
Nowadays Lacrosse players use a titanium stick and rubber ball. In the early years the sticks were wooden. Back then as many as 1,000 would join in a single game that often lasted for three days. Matches would start as soon as the sun came up and go on until it was dark. Trees and rocks became the goals and they were between 500 yards and a half mile apart.
French Jesuit missionaries knew the game by the 17th century and in time the rest of the world learned of it. Lacrosse is still enjoyed in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and Scotland among other nations. It's a rough game involving both thinking and physical stamina. This article offers a few tips for playing the game well.
To become proficient at Lacrosse, you need to become one with your stick. The more comfortable you are with it the more skillful you'll be. Start taking it jogging and walking just to get used to having it in your hands. Switch hands often so you'll be equally adept with both the right and left hands. Also practice changing the direction of the cradle and how fast you can manipulate it.
Some Lacrosse pros recommend doing a lot of sprints, as strong legs are a must, as is durability. Running and sprints provide the right kind of physical conditioning. Some of the experts also advise using a wooden stick rather than one made from titanium. Wood is more porous and therefore absorbs any impact more efficiently. Also, since titanium is metal, it will become cold to the hands and the plastic heads don't hold up well.
For attackmen, keep moving all the time so your defenseman must keep his attention on you and not helping other defensemen. Then, when moving the ball around the goal, make sure your passes are short and sharp, keeping them to the outside away from the defenseman. For the passes, they should be hard and when you have the ball, NEVER stand still. In Lacrosse, it is important that you keep moving, even if it means running forward or backward.
When you have possession of the ball in Lacrosse, you need to fake passes and keep your defenseman's stick moving all the time. Additionally, make the defenseman play your stick while watching his stick. Finally, make sure you never make a pass to a man that is covered as a means of getting rid of the ball. With Lacrosse, you will have so much fun while enjoying a good, challenging game that requires physical and mental alertness at all times.
Copyright 2006, Tate Palumb, All Rights Reserved. This article may be published on web sites or in newsletters provided this notice and the resource box is included without ammendment.
Tate Palumb runs the Foxs Lacrosse, web site that focuses on a range of resources about playing a better game of Lacrosse. go to: http://www.foxslacrosse.com Click here for other unique 'lacrosse' articles.
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